Chapter 102 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
At this moment, the Emperor, seated on the Dragon Throne, slowly stood up. His sharp, knife-like gaze swept coldly across the crowd below. He then fixed his gaze on the Fourth Prince's Consort and spoke sternly, "Fourth Prince's Consort, you were so audacious as to spread the dreaded smallpox, causing devastation and suffering for the people of four states. Your actions are tantamount to treason! However, considering you are a member of the royal family and have royal blood flowing through your veins, I will grant you an intact corpse as a final act of mercy."
Hearing this, the Fourth Prince's wife showed no fear at all. Instead, she raised her head and burst into a shrill, wild laugh: "Hahahahahahaha... Do you think that by simply killing us like this, you can cover up all your shameful crimes? Don't even think about it! History will remember all the truth!"
However, facing the Fourth Prince's wife's accusations, the Emperor's face remained sullen, unmoved. With a gentle wave of his arm, he signaled to his attendants for immediate execution. Several guards quickly advanced, firmly apprehended the Fourth Prince's wife, and escorted her away. Soon after, news arrived that the Fourth Prince's wife had taken her own life with a piece of pure, snow-white silk.
At that moment, a four-year-old child was brought to the front of the palace. Gazing at this innocent child, some of the ministers couldn't help but sigh quietly, their hearts filled with sympathy. But despite this, no one dared to stand up and plead for the child.
The emperor frowned slightly upon seeing this, and after a long silence, he spoke: "This child is, after all, the Fourth Prince's flesh and blood, but he is still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. I simply cannot bear to murder such an ignorant child. Therefore, I have decided to strip him of his royal status and demote him to a commoner, forever forbidding him to set foot in the capital."
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Inside the Grand Tutor's Mansion, ancient trees towered and the courtyard was deep and secluded. Zhang Xiaojia and Grand Tutor Liao sat opposite each other in the study, the aroma of tea lingering in the air, but the atmosphere was solemn and subtle.
Taifu Liao stroked his long beard, his eyes deep. "Xiao Jia, you have always been intelligent. Today, I want to ask you, why did the Emperor choose to publicly try the Fourth Prince's wife?"
Zhang Xiaojia smiled slightly, a sly look flashing in his eyes. "Old man, you're testing me? Then I'll be bold enough to analyze a few things."
She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly:
"First, the emperor was adopted by the late queen, which is legitimate. This is the foundation of the patriarchal system and no one can shake it.
Second, the Fourth Prince had already lost the support of the people by refining elixirs and killing children. Even with a will, it would be difficult to convince the people.
Third, the three provinces and six ministries carried out the succession procedures under the leadership of the prime minister, and no ministers in the court objected.
Fourth, the emperor promoted the smallpox vaccine and exempted the four affected states from taxes, and the people had already won over.
Fifth, the Dragon Guards, the Wude Division, and the Imperial Guards are all under the control of my brother, the Emperor. Who dares to disobey under the force of force? "
After hearing this, Taifu Liao's eyes lit up with approval. "Yes, that's a thorough analysis. So, in your opinion, what should I do now?"
Zhang Xiaojia put down his teacup and smiled even more: "Old man, you are the leader of the world's scholars. Now is the time for you to play a role."
She paused, lowered her voice, and said, "Hang up the late emperor's calligraphy so that students all over the world can compare it."
Upon hearing this, Taifu Liao was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Brilliant! Brilliant! Xiaojia, your move is truly a powerful one!"
He stood up and patted his sleeves. "Come on, follow me to the largest gathering place for scholars. Hang up the late emperor's calligraphy and let the world see what is true and what is false."
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Wenyuan Pavilion was the capital's largest gathering place for scholars, with hundreds of students reading and discussing philosophy every day. When Taifu Liao and Zhang Xiaojia arrived, the pavilion was bustling with activity.
Taifu Liao ordered people to hang the calligraphy and paintings of the late emperor in the main hall, and placed a copy of the so-called "last will" of the fourth prince's wife next to it.
The late emperor's calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, with a brush tip as sharp as a knife, fully displaying the aura of an emperor.
The copy of the "Last Will": The handwriting is chaotic, the form is similar but the spirit is different, and it is far from the original work of the late emperor.
The comparison results of Wenyuan Pavilion quickly spread throughout the capital. Students wrote articles to refute the authenticity of the "last will", and the public opinion in the literary circle completely turned to the emperor.
In the teahouse, the storyteller began to tell the story of "The Late Emperor's Authentic Edict and the False Edict". People's sympathy for the Fourth Prince's wife gradually faded, and was replaced by support for the emperor.
When the ministers in the court heard about this, they all submitted memorials praising the emperor for his "keen observation", and the loyalty of the bureaucracy was further enhanced.
Zhang Xiaojia knew that force could suppress resistance, but only culture could completely conquer people's hearts. By guiding public opinion in the literary circle, she pushed the legitimacy of her brother, the emperor, to an unquestionable level.
Behind the use of force, the victory of culture is the ultimate guarantee of power.
Liao Taifu was a leading scholar in the world, and his statement was highly symbolic. Through him, Zhang Xiaojia transformed the controversy over the authenticity of the will into an academic question of cultural authentication, completely negating the Fourth Prince's consort's last-ditch effort.
As night fell, Zhang Xiaojia and Liao Taifu walked out of Wenyuan Pavilion side by side.
Taifu Liao sighed, "Xiao Jia, this move of yours is truly a stroke of genius."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled faintly. "Old man, you're too kind. I'm just following the trend. The struggle for power is ultimately inseparable from people's hearts and culture."
Taifu Liao nodded. "Yes, the world can be conquered by force, but it can also be ruled by culture. From today on, the Emperor's rule will be as stable as Mount Tai."
He paused, then said with a hint of regret, "It's a pity that you're already married. Otherwise, with your talent and intelligence, you would have no problem becoming prime minister."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled but said nothing. She didn't want that! How many things against one's will did one have to do to reach the position of prime minister?
She likes to live a free and easy life, but she cannot serve the country and the people because it is too tiring. She is used to luxury. It is okay for her to do something occasionally, but she would rather die if she was asked to do it every day.
On the way back to the imperial farm, Zhang Xiaojia looked at He Lin, who had been a book boy for a day.
The carriage rolled over the bluestone pavement, and the hem of He Lin's garment, embroidered with silver thread, was gently lifted by the summer breeze. He looked out the window at the receding weeping willows and suddenly said, "Mother, do you think the Fourth Princess's will is true?"
Zhang Xiaojia smiled and said, "So what if it's true, so what if it's fake?"
He Lin asked in a low voice, "If it's true? Will the emperor abdicate?"
Zhang Xiaojia paused as she peeled lotus seeds. Tiny pieces of lotus shells fell on her emerald green skirt. She placed the snow-white seeds on a small celadon dish and said casually, "When your royal grandfather passed away, he handed the imperial seal to the prime minister and ordered your father to succeed him. The historian's record of this is more detailed than an account book."
He Lin pondered: "So what's important is not whether the will is true or not, but what the living believe in?"
"Wrong." Zhang Xiaojia suddenly threw the lotus seeds into the air, and He Lin instinctively reached out to catch them. "What's important is what you believe in now? What do you want?"
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